An ongoing dispute between the FAA
and Orcas Island, Washington may mean either pilots will lose
"through the fence" access to the airport, or the community might
have to raise taxes for airport improvements.

The FAA wants Orcas Island to fence off the airport, which means
pilots living nearby who currently keep their airplanes at home
would lose their special access permits to the field. 26
landownders currently avoid hangar or tiedown fees by keeping their
airplanes on their private property adjacent to the airport. The
easements to the airfield were granted by the original owner when
he deeded the land to the Port of Orcas in 1959.

According to The Island Sounder, the Orcas Island Commissioners
believe the FAA wants them to take the easement by eminent domain,
and no new easements would be granted. They could also acquire the
land by buying it as it becomes available, and re-selling it
without the easements. Because of federal regulations governing
airports, the FAA says it will require the commission to return
federal money granted for airport improvements if the easements are
not terminated. The commissioners say if they try to make those
improvements without the federal dollars, it will be required to
raise taxes on the entire community.

Property owner and former America Airlines pilot Bob Waunch, one
of those with an easement, told the paper the airport is critical
to the community. “Everyone on this island needs this
airport. Package delivery here is a major thing, all the
contractors get their supplies through the airport and the then
there is the medical use. If the port and not the FAA were
controlling things they could put non aviation businesses on the
land and raise additional funds.”

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt was asked about "through the
fence" problems at his "Meet the Administrator" session last week
at EAA AirVenture 2009. Babbitt said he was aware of the problems,
and while we was not prepared to give a definitive answer, he
promised to take a look at the issue.